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The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed concerns about the presence of ‘forever chemicals’ in Chennai waterbodies
Taking suo motu cognisance of chemical contamination in Buckingham Canal, Adyar River, and Chembarambakkam Lake based on news reports on a study done by IIT Madras, the bench noted that the presence of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface level waters, groundwater, and even treated water treatment plant near the lake
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water
These synthetic chemicals that do not degrade in the environment
PFAS are known to have adverse health effects such as liver damage, hormonal imbalance, immune system effects, and even cancer.
According to the study, groundwater near the Perungudi dumpyard contained 2.72 nanogram per litre (ng/L) of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), significantly exceeding the EPA’s safe level of 0.02ng/L.
The Buckingham Canal is a 796 kilometres long fresh water navigation canal, that parallels the Coromandel Coast of South India from Kakinada City in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh to Village near Chidambaram, Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, India.
The canal connects most of the natural backwaters along the coast to Chennai port.
The Adyar River, originating near the Chembarambakkam Lake in Kanchipuram district, is one of the three rivers which winds through Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India, and joins the Bay of Bengal at the Adyar estuary.
Chembarambakkam lake is a lake located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, about 25 km from Chennai.
It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs that supply water to Chennai City, the other one being the Puzhal Lake.
This was the first Artificial lake built by Rajendra Chola I the son of Rajaraja Chola and Thiripuvana Madeviyar, prince of Kodumbalur.
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